Hi everyone
Sorry the newsletter didn’t come out last week, it was one of those weeks! Here’s all the stuff you need to know 😊
Website updates
We are embarking on a revamp and refresh of the website, including some reorganisation of where the content sits, following some feedback that it’s a bit hard to find all the info you need to find out how you can use the studio. Please bear with us, as we move things around and update various sections. And if you get stuck, please just give us a call or email us and we’ll help with your query.
At this stage, we have:
Added a “How it all works” section, so you can see what’s relevant to you at a glance – it’s on the Studio Use page.
Moved the Studio Availability Calendar – to this page (it’s a drop down under the “Studio Use menu tab).
Added Committee Profiles so you can recognise and get to know the people who help keep this place running – to the About page.
Added a Clay Prices page – as a drop down under the Studio Use menu.
There’s a whole raft of updates we have planned and it’ll take us a good wee while to get these all rolled out, but do take a look and let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see added, or that will make things easier for you to find.
Kids Casual Play with Clay
We’re halfway through the first term of our Kids Play with Clay sessions, and it’s been a hoot creating with this group. We’ve been making pumpkins, Christmas trees, leaf bowls, lots of wheel-thrown vessels and there’s even been a Sonic the Hedgehog amongst the creations.
If you’d like to bring your children along and join in, you can just turn up on any Wednesday afternoon, from 4pm – 5.30pm (last session for the year is on 4th December). It’s just $15 per participant, which includes the clay, firing and glazing of anything made during the session. Parents are welcome to stay and join in too!
Last Raku firing for 2024
Get your Raku on at the last firing of the year, on Saturday the 7th of December, 10am - 1pm.
David Kenny will be firing up the kiln again, so you can come and get involved and get some of that crackly, metallic raku-goodness!
End of Year deadlines
These are our closing, firing and kiln booking deadlines for the end of the year, please keep these in mind as you plan your making.
17 November – Last day for private kiln bookings
2 December – Last day for pre-holiday bisque firing drop offs
You will still be welcome to leave work for bisque firing after this date, and we will do our level best to process it, but we can’t guarantee that it will make it through before we close for the holidays.
9 December – Last day for pre-holiday glaze firing drop offs
As above, you are still welcome to leave work for glaze firing after this date but we can’t guarantee that it will make it through before we close for the holidays.
10 December – Last Tuesday evening Play with Clay
17 December, 5.30pm – Christmas Party!
19 December – Last open studio for the year
20 December – End of year Working Bee and closing day
The studio won’t be in a state for any potting to take place, but you are still able to pop in and pick up your pieces. In fact, this will be your last chance to do so before we re-open on the 13th of January.
Portage Awards and Exhibition
Te Uru is proud to present the 2024 Portage Ceramic Awards.
This year’s judge Kate Newby will announce the winners at the awards night, held at Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery in Titirangi, West Auckland on Thursday 21 November from 6-9pm.
The premier Portage Ceramic Award carries a prize of $15,000. Three merit awards of $1,000 each are also on offer, along with a People’s Choice Award of $1,000.
This year we are delighted to make the awards night open to all. Friends and whānau are welcome and no tickets are necessary.
The Portage Ceramic Awards exhibition will be on display at Te Uru from 22 November 2023 to 23 February 2025.
Clay Festival Waikato
Studio Schedule
Here’s how the studio is looking this week but, as always, remember to check the online calendar (in its new location) before you come in.
Monday 18th November
9.30am – 12.30pm, Class, Wheel Throwing
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Class, Hand Building
Tuesday 19th November
9.30am – 12.30pm, Members’ Open Studio
1pm – 3pm, CLOSED for Private Booking
6pm – 9pm, Play with Clay – thanks Margaret and Meg!
Wednesday 20th November
9.30am – 12.30pm, Play with Clay – Thanks Larissa, Mark and Yasmin!
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
4pm – 5.30pm, Kids’ Play with Clay
6pm - 9pm, Class, Wheel Throwing
Thursday 21st November
10am – 1pm, Class, Sculpture Skills
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Class, Wheel Throwing
Friday 22nd November
9.30am - 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Class, Intro to Pottery
Saturday 23rd of November
10am – 1pm, Play with Clay – thanks Teresa, Lydia and team!
Sunday 24th of November
10am – 1pm, Class, Wheel Throwing
